THE NEWLY installed parish priest of the UST Santisimo Rosario Parish, Fr. Glen Mar Gamboa, O.P., wants to encourage more young people to strengthen their faith and serve the Church.
At 35, Gamboa is the youngest to be appointed UST parish priest.
He was installed during solemn rites led by Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula on Saturday, May 24.
“Ang pinaka-goal talaga natin is sana mas marami pang young people na maattract sa simbahan, to journey with them sa kanilang faith and mas lalo pa silang mapalapit sa Diyos through the Church,” Gamboa said in an interview with the Varsitarian.
For Gamboa, the way to attract the youth is through collaborations.
“Hindi pwedeng kami (priests) lang. Kailangan talagang mag reach out sa mga bata, sa mga Thomasians. Especially those who are struggling with their faith at losing hope and faith in God,” he said.
“We can do that in collaborative effort na magkakaroon ng encounter ng faith. That encounter of faith, ‘yon ‘yong magbibigay sa atin ng fire at enthusiasm sa ating pananampalataya,” he added.
In his address during the installation rites, Advincula reminded Gamboa that his fidelity to Christ is the best gift he can give to the parish.
“Faith and fidelity, these are the words that should constitute your everyday life as a shepherd. They will be the oxygen for your ministry. They will be your gifts to the people of God,” the cardinal said.
“As priests, people come to us looking for solutions to their problems or decisions to settle issues in their communities… Your most important role is to be faithful to Christ so that you can strengthen the faith of your brothers and sisters as well.”
Advincula told parishioners that Gamboa’s new post is a “manifestation of God’s never-ending care for his flock.”
“Your parish priest is a reminder of God’s love for his people, a fulfillment of his promise that he will continue to send shepherds after his own heart,” he said.
Gamboa, a UST Faculty of Canon Law faculty member, started in his new post on May 1.
He replaced Fr. Isidro Abaño, O.P., who had been serving as acting parish priest of UST since Jan. 9, following the end of Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, O.P.’s six-year term.
Talavera joined a Dominican mission in Gibraltar.
